Petition · Boycott Hyundai/Kia, Samsung, LG until S. Korea bans the dog and cat torture and consumption · Change.org 81,039 Supporters In South Korea, the dog meat industry is calculated at 2 billion dollars. That results in the annual slaughter of over 2.5 million dogs, served in upwards of 20,000 restaurants nationwide. That's about 7,000 dogs slaughtered every single day. It is estimated that over 100,000 tons of dog meat is consumed annually, including 93,600 tons used to produce ‘health’ tonics called "Gae Soju" which is prepared by boiling dogs with various herbs until it become a thick liquid. Cats are also made into these tonics which is called "Goyangyee Soju". The South Korean's Animal Protection Law, which was passed in 1991, considers dogs to be "domestic pets". However, the shadowy and illicit world of the dog and cat industry flourishes because of the shameful indifference of the South Korean government and the demand from the consumers.

Today, we are asking that the South Korean government ban this cruel and inhumane practice of torturing and consuming dogs and cats once and for all. Here are the reasons why: Dogs are called man's best friends for a reason. In the history of mankind, dogs were mainly treated as part of a family in both Western and Eastern cultures. They protected our homes and family with their loyalty and unbridled faithfulness. They served as friends with their unconditional love, quick forgiveness and uncompromising selflessness. They walked along side their human companions and hunted with fierce bravery and the desire to please their human. Now to torture and eat them is a betrayal against our best friends who have always stood by us through thousands of years becoming dependant on us for their very survival. Proponents of dog meat in South Korea are trying to justify this cruel practice by using the "meat dogs" vs. "pet dogs" argument. It is well known worldwide that all dogs are the same. It is unethical and wrong to separate dogs for meat and dogs for pets. To say there is a dog especially bred for eating, does not mean that it is different from other dogs in nature.

It has the same intelligence and feelings and it will suffer as much as any other dog. The dog-for-meat notion is a smoke screen to keep people ignorant. It gives people an excuse not to think about the real issues. But for argument sake, let's say that the "meat dogs" vs. "pet dogs" defense was valid. It is practically impossible to enforce the law to ensure everyone adheres to the dogs for meat and dogs for pets division. Any pet can end up as dog meat and many do. Pet dogs are being bought or abducted and slaughtered for dog meat and dog liquor all the time. A recent Korean TV program exposed the world of the dog meat industry where the former pets that were abandoned or stolen are readily being sold and slaughtered for meat. One of the worst examples of animal cruelty in the history of humanity is being committed by the Dog and Cat Meat Industry in South Korea. Dogs are deprived of everything that is natural to them. They live in tiny cages above the ground and having to balance on rusty feces encrusted wire underneath them all their lives. They are left to constantly smell the accumulation of feces and urine underneath their cage.

Puppies are separated from their mothers at an early age and some are slaughtered at just a few weeks old. They don't even know what walking on the ground feels like. They cannot mingle with other dogs other than those in cages beside them. They suffer summer heat and freezing winters outdoors. No water is given. They have to eat rotten human food waste such as kimchi or organs from their slaughtered friends. It is also documented that dead puppies are ground up and fed to these dogs. They get no exercise. Veterinary care is nonexistent. They have been known to have their eardrums burst to prevent them from barking. Every natural instinct they have is impeded by the inhumane and tortuous conditions they must live under. The best description for their lives is "Hell on Earth". During the transport to the markets, restaurants and slaughterhouses, from being thrown into metal cages by the neck like rags, they sustain serious and painful injuries such as broken spines and limbs. To prevent dogs in fear and stress from fighting with each other, they are crammed into tiny cages making them unable to move or stretch their limbs. They are loaded into back of trucks and forced into this position for hours without food or water.

When they are finally yanked out of these cages by the neck, they are electrocuted, hanged, beaten or burned to death. There is a perverted belief that the meat tastes better if dogs have high adrenaline levels in their meat before they die. Therefore, some dogs are made to experience extreme fear and suffering leading up to their deaths. Some dogs are hanged and then beaten while they are hanging and still alive. Others are hanged and then a blow torch is used on them while they are still alive to remove their hair. Others still are simply beaten and tortured to death. Generally, at the markets, dogs are electrocuted and then their necks are broken. Throughout the modern world South Koreans are depicted as heartless people who brutalize and terrorize helpless animals without one shred of compassion or humanity. When I think about these horrible cruelties perpetuated by humans on these trusting creatures, I feel ashamed to be a human. The statistics shows that the people who abuse animals are several times more likely to abuse women and children as well. Tolerance of this type of treachery and brutality towards companion animals sends a wrong message to your society that it is ok to hurt and cause suffering to others as long as the law does not intervene.

Based on a survey done by a Korean animal group, a majority of people in the dog and cat meat industry they interviewed took no pride in their profession and would much rather be doing something else for a living. Children who grow up in this kind of environment will not learn to respect the lives of animals and fellow human beings. Do you want your children to live in a society where this brutality and disregard for lives is accepted as a norm? Supporters of the dog meat industry point to the alleged health benefits as the reason to consume dogs. However, there is substantial support that dog meat is actually bad for your health. Not only do the authorities sanction the trade in dog and cat meat, but the unscrupulous dog traders exploit every opportunity to profit from the business by perpetuating the falsehood that canine meat actually has health benefits for those consuming it: increasing male sexual prowess and generally benefiting a person’s overall health. Cat meat products are also being promoted as cures for rheumatism and arthritis. Nothing is further from the truth.

Not only are these ridiculous claims, but consumption of dog and cat meat can actually have an adverse effect on human health: in order to prevent diseases in the animals, dog farmers liberally give them antibiotics and, it has been reported, some dog meat traders inject the meat with steroids. The South Korean TV program that exposed the dangers of eating dog meat consulted the scientists at the Seoul Health & Environmental Research Center to examine the sample dog meat collected from the markets. The unmistakable results revealed that the dog meat is contaminated with various disease causing germs. Specifically they found 6 types of common germs, 4 types of colon bacillus, 1 type of yellow staphylococcus, which is above the standard expected limit in these dog meats. Additionally, a study by nutritional physiologist, Irwin H. Putzkoff, along with Cho Byung-Ho, and Oh Jin-Hwan, examined how the stress, fear, and pain experienced by dogs when slaughtered, or waiting to be slaughtered, resulted in several diseases in the people who ate the meat.

His findings discovered “an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.” The hormones in question are adrenalin, cortisone-like secretions, and steroids that stimulate the fear pheromone production. Laboratory rats fed dog meat ceased to reproduce after a period as short as two weeks. They suffered cardiac problems, general fatigue and impotency, and there was a small reduction in physical size of the sexual organs – the penis shrunk. How interesting that this contradicts the commonly held belief that dog meat increases virility. In the journal PLoS Medicine, Dr Heiman Wertheim also reported on two cases of human rabies infection transmitted by eating infected dog meat, further highlighting the dangers of consumption. Dog meat is no health food. This is a deceptive bases for animal abuse in South Korea. Lastly, we understand that a lot of Koreans would be offended if people were to refer to dog and cat meat as their traditional food. That is because this is not something that the Koreans are proud of or want to be known for. We learned that eating dogs and cats was something of necessity in the times of intense famine and hardship in Korean history.

However, this horrific cruelty continues in this day and age to a so called "Modern Nation" and one of the world's economic powers. Even if the dog and cat consumption was a true Korean cultural tradition, people need to evolve with time. Recently, Catalonia of Spain outlawed their tradition of bull-fighting, as it caused unnecessary suffering and death to bulls in the name of entertainment. Should you not also show compassion to an animal that has long been regarded as “Man’s Best Friend”? Dedicated caring people of South Korea have been trying to get the government to ban this atrocity for many years and the government has yet to take the leadership role in banning this illicit and gruesome industry. Therefore, in solidarity with these caring animal advocates of South Korea, we will boycott Hyundai/Kia, Samsung, LG and all other South Korean products and services until South Korea bans the Dog and Cat Meat Industry once and for all. We will not visit South Korea and we will discourage others from visiting South Korea. We will not stop speaking out against this betrayal of man's best friends until the South Korean government takes the stand to ban this horror. We understand that this is a 2 billion dollar industry and no one wants to rock the boat.

However, the export revenue, the positive image and the goodwill within the international community that South Korea stands to lose could be worth far more than the 2 billion dollars made by continuing this vile and inhumane industry. Please hear the haunting cries of these animals. Take up your position as a moral leader of your citizens for not only for the animal's sake but for your country as well and ban the torture and consumption of dogs and cats today.

Sincerely, Ambassador of Republic of Korea to the United Nations Ambassador Kim Sook (Ambassador of Republic of Korea to the United Nations) Read the letter Letter to Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Egypt Ambassador Young-So Kim (Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Egypt) Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Iran Ambassador Jae-Hyun Park (Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Iran) Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Philippines Ambassador Lee Hyuk (Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Philippines) Embassy of the Republic of Korea in United Kingdom Ambassador Park Suk-hwan (Embassy of the Republic of Korea in United Kingdom) Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Byung-Se Yun (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade) Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Germany Ambassador Jae Shin Kim (Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Germany) Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the United States Ambassador Choi Young-jin (Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the United States) Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Canada Ambassador Hee-yong Cho (Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Canada) Embassy of the Republic of Korea in France Ambassador Hye-min Lee (Embassy of the Republic of Korea in France) Embassy of the Republic of Korea

 in Spain Ambassador Dae-sung Oh (Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Spain) Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Brazil Ambassador Bon-Woo Koo (Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Brazil) Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Paraguay Ambassador Dong Won Park (Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Paraguay) Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Denmark Ambassador Byung-ho Kim (Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Denmark) Embassy of the Republic of Korea in India Ambassador Joon-Kyu Lee (Embassy of the Republic of Korea in India) Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Jamaica Ambassador Kimo Lim (Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Jamaica) Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Ireland Ambassador Chang Yeob Kim (Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Ireland) Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Greece Ambassador Sil-Sou Shin (Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Greece) Busan Metropolitan City Mayor Hur Nam-Sik Ministry of Environment Minister Seong-Kyu Yun Ministry of Food And Drug Safety Minister Seung Chung Office of the president, the Republic of Korea President Geun-Hye Park Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Ethiopia Ambassador Jong-Geun Kim Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Minister Yoon

-Sun Cho Hyundai Motor-Canada CEO Chung Mong-Koo Samsung C&T CEO Kim Shin Samsung Electronics CEO Choi Gee-Sung LG Display CEO Kwon Young-Soo Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Lee Dong-Phil Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs Minister Young Jin Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) President Young-Ho Oh Prime Minister's Office Prime Minister Hong-Won Chung Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office Prosecutor General Han Sang Dae Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Austria Ambassador CHO Hyun Seongnam City Mayor Lee Jae-Myung Ministry of Justice Minister Kwon Jae-Jin Korea International Trade Association (KITA) Chairman & CEO Il Sa-Kong Seoul Metropolitan Government Mayor Park Won Soon Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-Soo Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Chile Ambassador Hwang, Euiseung Ambassador of Republic of Korea to the United Nations Ambassador Kim Sook (Ambassador of Republic of Korea to the United Nations) I just signed the following petition addressed to: South Korean government.

---------------- Boycott Hyundai/Kia, Samsung, LG until S. Korea bans the dog and cat torture and consumption. In South Korea the dog meat industry is calculated at 2 billion dollars. That results in the annual slaughter of over 2.5 million dogs, served in upwards of 20,000 restaurants nationwide. That's about 7,000 dogs slaughtered every single day. It is estimated that over 100,000 tons of dog meat is consumed annually, including 93,600 tons used to produce ‘health’ tonics called "Gae Soju" which is prepared by boiling dogs with various herbs until it become a thick liquid. Cats are also made into these tonics which is called "Goyangyee Soju". The South Korean's Animal Protection Law, which was passed in 1991, considers dogs to be "domestic pets". However, the shadowy and illicit world of the dog and cat industry flourishes because of the shameful indifference of the South Korean government and the demand from the consumers. Today, we are asking that the South Korean government ban this cruel and inhumane practice of torturing and consuming dogs and cats once and for all.

Here are the reasons why: Dogs are called man's best friends for a reason. In the history of mankind, dogs were mainly treated as part of a family in both Western and Eastern cultures. They protected our homes and family with their loyalty and unbridled faithfulness. They served as friends with their unconditional love, quick forgiveness and uncompromising selflessness. They walked along side their human companions and hunted with fierce bravery and the desire to please their human. Now to torture and eat them is a betrayal against our best friends who have always stood by us through thousands of years becoming dependant on us for their very survival. Proponents of dog meat in South Korea are trying to justify this cruel practice by using the "meat dogs" vs. "pet dogs" argument. It is well known worldwide that all dogs are the same. It is unethical and wrong to separate dogs for meat and dogs for pets. To say there is a dog especially bred for eating does not mean that it is different from other dogs in nature. It has the same intelligence and feelings and it will suffer as much as any other dog. The dog-for-meat notion is a smoke screen to keep people ignorant. It gives people an excuse not to think about the real issues.

But for argument sake, let's say that the "meat dogs" vs. "pet dogs" defense was valid. It is practically impossible to enforce the law to ensure everyone adheres to the dogs for meat and dogs for pets division. Any pet can end up as dog meat and many do. Pet dogs are being bought or abducted and slaughtered for dog meat and dog liquor all the time. A recent Korean TV program exposed the world of the dog meat industry where the former pets that were abandoned or stolen are readily being sold and slaughtered for meat. One of the worst examples of animal cruelty in the history of humanity is being committed by the Dog and Cat Meat Industry in South Korea. Dogs are deprived of everything that is natural to them. They live in tiny cages above the ground and having to balance on rusty feces encrusted wire underneath them all their lives. They are left to constantly smell the accumulation of feces and urine underneath their cage. Puppies are separated from their mothers at an early age and some are slaughtered at just a few weeks old. They don't even know what walking on the ground feels like. They cannot mingle with other dogs other than those in cages beside them. They suffer summer heat and freezing winters outdoors. No water is given.

They have to eat rotten human food waste such as kimchi or organs from their slaughtered friends. It is also documented that dead puppies are ground up and fed to these dogs. They get no exercise. Veterinary care is nonexistent. They have been known to have their eardrums burst to prevent them from barking. Every natural instinct they have is impeded by the inhumane and tortuous conditions they must live under. The best description for their lives is "Hell on Earth". During the transport to the markets, restaurants and slaughterhouses, from being thrown into metal cages by the neck like rags, they sustain serious and painful injuries such as broken spines and limbs. To prevent dogs in fear and stress from fighting with each other, they are crammed into tiny cages making them unable to move or stretch their limbs. They are loaded into back of trucks and forced into this position for hours without food or water. When they are finally yanked out of these cages by the neck, they are electrocuted, hanged, beaten or burned to death. There is a perverted belief that the meat tastes better if dogs have high adrenaline levels in their meat before they die.

Therefore, some dogs are made to experience extreme fear and suffering leading up to their deaths. Some dogs are hanged and then beaten while they are hanging and still alive. Others are hanged and then a blow torch is used on them while they are still alive to remove their hair. Others still are simply beaten and tortured to death. Generally, at the markets, dogs are electrocuted and then their necks are broken. Throughout the modern world South Koreans are depicted as heartless people who brutalize and terrorize helpless animals without one shred of compassion or humanity. When I think about these horrible cruelties perpetuated by humans on these trusting creatures, I feel ashamed to be a human. The statistics shows that the people who abuse animals are several times more likely to abuse women and children as well. Tolerance of this type of treachery and brutality towards companion animals sends a wrong message to your society that it is ok to hurt and cause suffering to others as long as the law does not intervene. Based on a survey done by a Korean animal group, a majority of people in the dog and cat meat industry they interviewed took no pride in their profession and would much rather be doing something else for a living.

Children who grow up in this kind of environment will not learn to respect the lives of animals and fellow human beings. Do you want your children to live in a society where this brutality and disregard for lives is accepted as a norm? Supporters of the dog meat industry point to the alleged health benefits as the reason to consume dogs. However, there is substantial support that dog meat is actually bad for your health. Not only do the authorities sanction the trade in dog and cat meat, but the unscrupulous dog traders exploit every opportunity to profit from the business by perpetuating the falsehood that canine meat actually has health benefits for those consuming it: increasing male sexual prowess and generally benefiting a person’s overall health. Cat meat products are also being promoted as cures for rheumatism and arthritis. Nothing is further from the truth. Not only are these ridiculous claims, but consumption of dog and cat meat can actually have an adverse effect on human health: in order to prevent diseases in the animals, dog farmers liberally give them antibiotics and, it has been reported, some dog meat traders inject the meat with steroids.

The South Korean TV program that exposed the dangers of eating dog meat consulted the scientists at the Seoul Health & Environmental Research Center to examine the sample dog meat collected from the markets. The unmistakable results revealed that the dog meat is contaminated with various disease causing germs. Specifically, they found 6 types of common germs, 4 types of colon bacillus, 1 type of yellow staphylococcus, which is above the standard expected limit, in these dog meats. Additionally, a study by nutritional physiologist, Irwin H. Putzkoff, along with Cho Byung-Ho, and Oh Jin-Hwan, examined how the stress, fear, and pain experienced by dogs when slaughtered, or waiting to be slaughtered, resulted in several diseases in the people who ate the meat. His findings discovered “an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.” The hormones in question are adrenalin, cortisone-like secretions, and steroids that stimulate the fear pheromone production. Laboratory rats fed dog meat ceased to reproduce after a period as short as two weeks. They suffered cardiac problems, general fatigue and impotency, and there was a small reduction in physical size of the sexual organs – the penis shrunk.

How interesting that this contradicts the commonly held belief that dog meat increases virility. In the journal PLoS Medicine, Dr Heiman Wertheim also reported on two cases of human rabies infection transmitted by eating infected dog meat, further highlighting the dangers of consumption. Dog meat is no health food. This is a deceptive bases for animal abuse in South Korea. Lastly, we understand that a lot of Koreans would be offended if people were to refer to dog and cat meat as their traditional food. That is because this is not something that the Koreans are proud of or want to be known for. We learned that eating dogs and cats was something of necessity in the times of intense famine and hardship in Korean history. However, this horrific cruelty continues in this day and age to a so called "Modern Nation" and one of the world's economic powers. Even if the dog and cat consumption was a true Korean cultural tradition, people need to evolve with time. Recently, Catalonia of Spain outlawed their tradition of bull-fighting, as it caused unnecessary suffering and death to bulls in the name of entertainment. Should you not also show compassion to an animal that has long been regarded as “Man’s Best Friend”?

Dedicated caring people of South Korea have been trying to get the government to ban this atrocity for many years and the government has yet to take the leadership role in banning this illicit and gruesome industry. Therefore, in solidarity with these caring animal advocates of South Korea, we will boycott Hyundai/Kia, Samsung, LG and all other South Korean products and services until South Korea bans the Dog and Cat Meat Industry once and for all. We will not visit South Korea and we will discourage others from visiting South Korea. We will not stop speaking out against this betrayal of man's best friends until the South Korean government takes the stand to ban this horror. We understand that this is a 2 billion dollar industry and no one wants to rock the boat. However, the export revenue, the positive image and the goodwill within the international community that South Korea stands to lose could be worth far more than the 2 billion dollars made by continuing this vile and inhumane industry. Please hear the haunting cries of these animals. Take up your position as a moral leader of your citizens for not only for the animal's sake but for your country as well and ban the torture and consumption of dogs and cats today.

Boicot a Hyundai / Kia, Samsung, LG, hasta que Corea del Sur prohíba la tortura y consumo de carne de perro y de gato Se calcula que la industria de carne de perro en Corea del Sur, mueve una cifra de 2 mil millones de dólares. Eso da lugar a la masacre anual de más de 2,5 millones de perros cuya carne es servida en más de 20.000 restaurantes en todo el país. Esto significa sacrificar alrededor de 7.000 perros diariamente. Se estima que anualmente se consumen más de 100 mil toneladas de carne de perro, incluyendo 93.600 toneladas utilizadas para producir “tónicos para la salud" llamados "Gae Soju", los cuales se preparan hirviendo la carne de perro con varias hierbas hasta convertir la mezcla en un líquido espeso. Los gatos también son utilizados para preparar estos tónicos, en cuyo caso se llaman "Goyangyee Soju".

La Ley de Protección de Animales de Corea del Sur, aprobada en 1991, considera que los perros son "animales domésticos". Sin embargo, el oscuro e ilícito mercado de la industria de carne de perro y de gato, florece debido a la demanda de los consumidores y a la vergonzosa indiferencia del gobierno de Corea del Sur. Actualmente estamos pidiendo al gobierno de Corea del Sur que prohíba, de una vez por todas, la práctica cruel e inhumana de torturar y consumir perros y gatos. Estas son las razones: Los perros se denominan “los mejores amigos del hombre” por una razón. En la historia de la humanidad, tanto en la cultura oriental como occidental, los perros han sido tratados principalmente como parte de la familia. Ellos protegieron nuestro hogar y a nuestros seres queridos con su lealtad y fidelidad sin límites. Nos sirvieron como amigos con su amor incondicional, rápida disposición y abnegado desinterés.

Caminaron junto a sus compañeros humanos y cazaron con feroz valentía, con el deseo de complacerlos. Ahora su tortura y consumo es una traición en contra de nuestros mejores amigos, esos que han permanecido a nuestro lado a través de miles de años hasta llegar a hacerse dependientes de nosotros para su propia supervivencia. Los defensores del consumo de carne de perro en Corea del Sur están tratando de justificar esta cruel práctica estableciendo las categorías "perros para carne" vs "perros mascota". Es bien conocido que todos los perros son los mismos en todo el mundo. Es equivocado y falta de ética separar a los perros en “perros para ser comidos” y “perros para ser mascota”. Decir que hay un perro especialmente criado para ser comido, no significa que sea diferente de otros perros en la naturaleza. Tiene la misma inteligencia y sentimientos, y sufrirá tanto como cualquier otro perro. La categoría “perro para carne” es una cortina de humo para mantener a la gente en la ignorancia.

Les da una excusa para no pensar en el problema real. Pero a efectos de la discusión, digamos que la defensa de la categoría "perros para carne" frente a la de "perros mascota" sea válida. Es prácticamente imposible hacer cumplir la ley para asegurarse de que todo el mundo respeta esta división. Cualquier mascota puede terminar como carne de perro y de hecho muchas lo hacen. Los perros están siendo comprados o secuestrados y posteriormente asesinados para conseguir su carne y para preparar “licores medicinales”. Esto sucede todo el tiempo. Recientemente un programa de la televisión Coreana expuso el mundo de la industria de carne de perro, donde antiguas mascotas que fueron abandonadas o robadas, son rápidamente vendidas y sacrificadas Uno de los peores ejemplos de crueldad hacia los animales en la historia de la humanidad, está siendo cometido por la industria de carne de perro y de gato en Corea del Sur. Los perros se ven privados de todo lo que es natural para ellos.

Viven toda su vida en pequeñas jaulas elevadas del suelo y tienen que mantener el equilibrio sobre las heces enmohecidas incrustadas en los alambres bajos sus patas. También tienen que oler constantemente la acumulación de heces y orina debajo de su jaula. Los cachorros son separados de sus madres a una edad temprana y algunos son sacrificados tan sólo unas semanas después. Ni siquiera llegan a conocer la sensación de pisar la tierra. No pueden mezclarse con otros perros que no sean los que están en las jaulas al lado de ellos. Sufren al aire libre, el calor del verano y el frio del invierno. No les suministran agua y tienen que comer desechos podridos de alimentación humana, como el kimchi (plato típico coreano a base de col china fermentada) u órganos de los otros perros sacrificados. Hay pruebas documentadas de que los cachorros muertos son molidos y usados para alimentar a estos perros.

Tampoco realizan ningún ejercicio y la atención veterinaria es inexistente. Se sabe igualmente que les revientan los tímpanos para evitar que ladren. Cada instinto natural que les es propio, es suprimido de manera violenta debido a las inhumanas y tortuosas condiciones en que son obligados a vivir. La mejor descripción de la vida de uno de ellos es "el infierno en la Tierra". Durante su transporte hacia los mercados, los restaurantes y los mataderos, son cogidos por el cuello y arrojados como trapos dentro de jaulas metálicas. Es habitual que esto les provoque dolorosas y graves lesiones tales como rotura de la espina dorsal o de las extremidades. Para evitar que en esta situación de miedo y estrés los perros se peleen entre sí, son hacinados en diminutas jaulas en la que son incapaces de moverse o estirar sus extremidades. Las jaulas son transportadas en la parte de atrás de los camiones y los perros se ven forzados a permanecer en la misma posición durante horas, sin comida ni agua.

Cuando por fin los sacan de estas jaulas, son cogidos nuevamente por el cuello para ser electrocutados, ahorcados, golpeados o quemados vivos. Hay una perversa creencia según la cual la carne sabe mejor si los perros tienen altos niveles de adrenalina en su cuerpo antes de morir. Debido a esto, algunos perros son obligados a experimentar miedo y sufrimiento extremo antes de morir o ser sacrificados. En unos casos son ahorcados y luego golpeados mientras están colgados y aún con vida. En otros, están colgados y aún vivos mientras se utiliza un soplete para quitarles el pelo. Para algunos más su final llegará simplemente tras ser golpeados y torturados hasta la muerte. En general, en los mercados, los perros son electrocutados y luego se les rompe el cuello. A lo largo del mundo moderno los surcoreanos son representados como personas sin corazón que torturan y aterrorizan a animales indefensos, sin mostrar una pizca de compasión o humanidad.

Cuando pienso en las terribles atrocidades que cometen los hombres con estos fieles animales, me siento avergonzado de ser un ser humano. Las estadísticas muestran que las personas capaces de abusar de los animales son notoriamente más propensas a abusar también de mujeres y niños. La tolerancia de este tipo de alevosía y crueldad hacia los animales de compañía, envía el mensaje equivocado a la sociedad de que está bien hacer daño y causar sufrimiento a los demás, siempre y cuando la ley no intervenga. De acuerdo a una encuesta realizada por un grupo animalista coreano, la mayoría de la gente entrevistada dentro de la industria de carne de perro y de gato no está orgullosa de su profesión y preferirían estar haciendo otra cosa para ganarse la vida. Los niños que crecen en este tipo de ambiente no aprenderán a respetar la vida de los animales ni de los seres humanos. ¿Usted quiere que sus hijos vivan en una sociedad donde se acepta como una norma este tipo de brutalidad y desprecio por la vida?

Los partidarios de la industria de la carne de perro alegan supuestos beneficios para la salud como razón principal para consumirla. Sin embargo, existe importante evidencia de que la carne de perro es realmente mala para la salud. Con la aprobación de las autoridades, y ante la oportunidad de explotar un negocio altamente lucrativo, los inescrupulosos comerciantes de carne de perro perpetúan el mito de que ésta aumenta la potencia sexual masculina y mejora la salud en general, así como que con los gatos se producen tónicos efectivos para curar el reumatismo y la artritis. Nada más lejos de la realidad. Cualquier persona con una inteligencia razonable sabría que la carne es carne en cualquier sitio. Por tanto, la carne de perro no es diferente de cualquier otra en términos de su contenido y como cualquier otra, no contiene poderes mágicos. Por el contrario, la carne de perro es realmente perjudicial para la salud y puede producir enfermedades.

Los criadores de perros utilizan grandes cantidades de antibióticos para mantener a los animales libres de enfermedad y algunos informes revelan incluso que los perros son inyectados con esteroides. El programa de la televisión coreana que expuso los peligros de consumir carne de perro, consultó a los científicos del Centro Coreano para la Investigación de la Salud y el Medio Ambiente. Estos científicos examinaron muestras de carne de perro recogidas en los mercados. Los resultados inequívocos revelaron que la carne de perro está contaminada con diversos gérmenes causantes de enfermedades. En concreto, se encontraron 6 tipos de gérmenes comunes, 4 tipos de bacilos del colon y un 1 tipo de estafilococo amarillo; esto supera los límites estándar esperados para las muestras de carne. Además, un estudio realizado por el fisiólogo nutricional, Irwin H.

Putzkoff, junto a Cho Byung-Ho, y Oh Jin-Hwan, examinó cómo el estrés, el miedo y el dolor experimentado por los perros cuando son sacrificados o a la espera de serlo, provocó varias enfermedades en las personas que comían la carne. Sus hallazgos revelaron "un mayor riesgo de enfermedad cardiovascular." Se ha encontrado que en las enfermedades que causa el consumo de esta carne están implicadas hormonas como la adrenalina, secreciones similares a la cortisona y los esteroides que estimulan la producción de feromonas del miedo. Las ratas de laboratorio alimentadas con carne de perro dejaron de reproducirse después de un corto período de tan solo dos semanas. Además sufrieron problemas cardíacos, fatiga general e impotencia, mostrando una pequeña reducción en el tamaño físico de los órganos sexuales -pene encogido-. Resulta interesante que estos hallazgos contradigan claramente la creencia generalizada de que la carne de perro aumenta la virilidad.

En la revista PLoS Medicine, el doctor Heiman Wertheim también informó sobre dos casos de humanos infectados de rabia, la cual fue transmitida por el consumo de carne de perro. Esto destaca aún más los peligros de dicha práctica. La carne de perro no es comida sana. Su consumo se sustenta en falsas creencias que perpetúan el maltrato animal en Corea del Sur. Por último, entendemos que muchos coreanos se ofenderían si la gente se refiere a la carne de perro y de gato como su comida tradicional. Eso es porque no es algo de lo que estén orgullosos ni por lo que quieran ser conocidos. Sabemos que en la historia de Corea, comer perros y gatos fue una necesidad en tiempos de intensa hambruna y penurias económicas. Sin embargo, esta horrible crueldad se mantiene actualmente en nuestra época, en una nación considerada moderna y que es una de las potencias económicas del mundo.

Aunque el consumo de carne de perro y de gato sea considerado una verdadera tradición cultural en Corea, la gente tiene que evolucionar con el tiempo. Recientemente, Cataluña (España) prohibió la tradición de las corridas de toros, ya que causan un sufrimiento innecesario y la muerte de los animales en nombre del entretenimiento. ¿No deberíamos también mostrar compasión por un animal que ha sido considerado desde siempre como "mejor amigo del hombre"? En Corea del Sur los animalistas han estado durante muchos años tratando de conseguir que el gobierno prohíba esta atrocidad. Aun así, el gobierno no acaba de ejercer un rol de liderazgo en la prohibición de esta industria ilícita y horripilante.

Por lo tanto, en solidaridad con los defensores de los animales, que cuidan de ellos en Corea del Sur, vamos a boicotear a marcas como Hyundai / Kia, Samsung, LG y demás productos y servicios surcoreanos hasta que sea prohibida la Industria de carne de perro y de gato de una vez por todas. No vamos a visitar Corea del Sur y vamos a desalentar a otros de hacerlo. No vamos a dejar de hablar en contra de esta atrocidad hacia los mejores amigos del hombre. Entendemos que muchos coreanos no quieran perder esta ilícita industria de 2 mil millones de dólares. Sin embargo, para Corea del Sur, los ingresos de exportación, una imagen positiva y la buena voluntad de la comunidad internacional, valen mucho más que los 2 mil millones de dólares que consiguen continuando con esta práctica vil e inhumana. Por favor, escuche los conmovedores gritos de estos animales. Posiciónese como líder moral de sus ciudadanos, no sólo por la causa de los animales, sino por su país.

Prohíba la tortura y el consumo de carne de perro y de gato. Atentamente, How South Korea Became a Consumer Product Juggernaut How South Korea Became a Consumer Product Juggernaut Abby Schultz|Special to CNBC.com Monday, 16 Jul 2012 | 2:39 PM ET CNBC.com SHARES South Korea’s economy and markets are dominated by export-oriented companies, particularly those that are now household names in the U.S. — consider Samsung Electronics , LG Electronics,Hyundai Motorsand Kia Motors . Jung Yeon-Je | AFP | Getty Images Samsung Electronics flag and South Korean flag (R) flutter outside its headquarters in Seoul. But it’s not only consumer electronics, information technology and autos that dominate Korea’s export sector. The nation also depends on materials and industrial goods for exports. Some of the biggest are: Posco , a steelmaker, LG Chemical , a chemicals manufacturer, and Hyundai Heavy Industries , a machinery maker. These companies have solidified their global presence based on consistent product offerings that typically provide customers with quality goods at competitive prices. Many Korean exporters have also made inroads beyond the U.S.

and Europe, to emerging markets such as China, India and Brazil that many analysts expect will continue to fuel their growth. “Korea has been improving its brand image, and the quality (of its products) has improved quite a lot,” says Michael Oh, portfolio manager at Matthews Korea Investor. R&D Culture One reason for Korea’s shine is a decision by many of its companies to fund research and development, even when times are tough. Korea is “one of the few countries increasing R&D, while other countries have been cutting back,” Oh says. The best example of how this benefits Korea is in the auto industry, which has steadily gained market share at the same time it has cut back on buyer incentives. That’s allowed the automakers — Hyundai Motors and Kia Motors — to remain profitable even as their combined market share of 9 percent holds steady, says PJ Yoon, auto analyst at Samsung Securities. Hyundai and Kia also benefit from their strategy of diversifying beyond developed markets. Vehicle sales for both automakers are far more geographically dispersed than for any other automaker, with manufacturing plants as well as customers in several emerging markets, including India and China, says Yoon. The strategy buffers the automakers from the economic travails of individual markets.

“That’s one of the key strengths Hyundai and Kia have,” he adds. Because global economic jitters could disrupt auto sales this year, Edmund Harriss, manager of Guinness Atkinson Asia Focus, prefers another of Korea’s biggest exporters, Hyundai Mobis . “People may not want a brand new car, but they will spend on parts to keep their old car going,” Harriss says. Information technology is another key industry in Korea that’s benefited from R&D spending. Samsung Electronics is one of the best examples: After an aggressive and expensive push, the tech firm dominates the smartphone and semiconductor markets, with cutting edge technologies. Samsung should continue to dominate the smartphone market for the near term, too, as it is best positioned to take advantage of some of the trends in the market, including the growth of the “low-end” smartphone market, according to Mark Newman, senior analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein. “Key success factors are now much more about having broad product portfolio, flooding the market with various choices at various price points all the way from high end to low end, being cost competitive, and having distribution across all geographies,” Newman said, according to a summary of a recent conference call with investors.

Park Ji-Hwan | AFP | Getty Images POSCO headquarters in Seoul, South Korea. Samsung is also “one of the few survivors in semiconductors,” he adds. The company’s semiconductor business dominates in DRAM \(dynamic random access memory\) for personal computers, and flash memory, used in smartphones and ultrabooks. This technical and strategic dominance in a “very capital intensive” industry makes it difficult for competitors to catch up, Oh says. Emerging Exporters The nation also has an emerging class of stocks that are making inroads as exporters, and which market analysts at Samsung Securities expect could lead a second export boom for Korea. These include manufacturers that support Korea’s IT and auto companies, such as Duksan Hi-Metal , Hankook Tire and SL Corporation , an auto parts maker, according to a recent research report by the firm. Other companies that have catered to domestic consumers in Korea could gain traction as exporters if Korea’s global brand image continues to improve, thanks to favorable views of products and the success Korea has had in appealing to consumers in other Asian nations, says Oh. Korea has a “natural advantage when it comes to consumer products” in Asia, he says.

An example in the Matthews portfolio is Orion Corp ., a snack manufacturer that has been moving into mass consumer markets in China, Vietnam and Russia. Orion discovered that it could export to China the same products it sold to its Korean customers and “not really change their marketing strategy,” Oh says. Other consumer goods companies seeking to expand outside Korea are KT&G , (Korea Tobacco & Ginseng), a tobacco company; CJ CheilJedang , a food manufacturer; and Amorepacific , a personal care and cosmetics company, according to Samsung Securities. As the firm’s analysts wrote: These companies “have consistently offered products that reflect an understanding of consumer needs, and are likely to do well overseas.” But some analysts think domestic-oriented companies, including banks and insurance ones, will gain attention from investors, as Korea’s policymakers shift focus to growing domestic industries as a means of spurring jobs growth, according to JPMorgan’s Asia Pacific Equity Research. Oh likes Korea’s life insurers now, given that the average income in Korea is half that of Japan, and should continue to grow. “We’re focusing on companies and industries that will benefit from growing income growth in Korea,” he says.

Korean electronics, cars win hearts of overseas consumers :: Korea.net : The official website of the Republic of Korea Korean electronics, cars win hearts of overseas consumers Jul 01, 2011 Korea’s leading industries and major firms like Samsung, LG and Hyundai have performed extremely well overseas, winning recognition from international consumers and getting favorable responses from overseas customers. Samsung Electronics announced on June 26 that it was named the best manufacturer for portable media and home audio-visual products by UK.-based “Which?” magazine. The magazine selected 15 electronic goods, including smart TVs, blue ray players and home theaters by Samsung as “best-buy” models, noting that their smart TVs have a high level of user satisfaction. LG Electronics is also performing well in overseas markets. “Consumer Reports,” a U.S. consumer monthly magazine, selected LG’s Cinema 3D TV as the best in its June 26 review of 13 models from six electronics companies. This is the first time that the magazine has compared and ranked all 3D TVs currently on sale in the U.S. market. Korean automobiles continue to win the hearts of U.S. consumers, led by Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motors.

In May this year, Hyundai and Kia recorded double-digit shares of the U.S. mid-size car market. Hyundai’s Sonata and Kia’s Optima, in particular, are currently some of the best-selling sedans in America. This is the first time that Korean cars received have sold so well since they were first exported to the United States 25 years ago. Industry experts predict the sales of Korean cars in U.S. market will lead Korean auto companies to achieve some of their highest sales levels ever. By Yoon Sojung Samsung, LG, SK in auto battery battle Updated : 2014-02-11 15:53 Samsung, LG, SK in auto battery battle Samsung Electronics recently formed a partnership which BMW, which allows the German carmaker's i3 electric vehicle to interact with Galaxy Gear smartwatches. / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics IT-auto partnership becomes popular for biz sustainability By Kim Yoo-chul Connected vehicles have become central to the contemporary driving experience. New technologies and innovations are emerging from both automotive and consumer electronics companies. Challenges still remain on how effectively new systems, applications, content and context are integrated into vehicles and consumer lifestyles.

But as the collaboration between innovative automakers and technology companies becomes stronger, consumers have more driving choices, safety improves and all industries involved grow, according to officials at some of Korea's leading technology companies. "I can say ubiquitous connectivity opens many doors for improved profitability and competitive positioning throughout an expanded ecosystem in the technology industries. This is what's happening between the car and technology industries. New business opportunities are definitely emerging," said Brett Sappington, director of research at Parks Associates. The technology affiliates of Samsung Group, LG Corp. and SK Group ― Korea's top three conglomerates ― are aggressively exploring territories and opportunities to grow connected car-related technology businesses, which they believe have huge growth potential and could alleviate their worries over corporate sustainability amid challenging situations. "As Samsung's growth slows, it needs to find new cash cows other than smartphones, TVs, displays and chips. In line with that perception, Samsung's top management believes vehicle-related solutions are new business fields from which it could profit in an organized way," said Hong Sung-ho, an analyst at LIG Investment & Securities.

While Samsung led the global smartphone market last year with a share of over 30 percent, according to market research firm Strategy Analytics, it still faces stiff competition from budget Chinese electronics companies such as Lenovo and Huawei. In addition, although Apple accounts for only 15 percent of the global market, it recently partnered with China Mobile. Over 60 percent of Samsung Electronics' annual profit came from its handset division, and company officials admitted that it should cut its heavy dependence on handsets to diversify its portfolio and boost its corporate sustainability. To this end, Samsung has taken an interest in in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) units and car batteries. "Once carmakers demanded their suppliers to ‘open the box' of IVI ‘head units,' IVI software development changed. Samsung is working with rivals on the increasing complex IVI infrastructure," said an unnamed executive at one of Samsung Group's technology affiliates. The executive said Samsung is approaching major automakers that they can work with in various IVI-related projects that aim to supply car batteries with better pricing, guaranteed output and on-time delivery.

With the full support of Samsung heir apparent Lee Jay-yong, who currently serves as Samsung Electronics vice chairman, the conglomerate's battery-making unit, Samsung SDI, has been expanding investment in rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles. SDI, which suffered 27.4 billion won in losses last year, aims to recover by increasing its sales of car batteries, according to the company. The Samsung affiliate is working with a regional government in China to construct its first battery plant in Xi'an, where Samsung Electronics is also building a $7 billion flash memory chip plant. "Recently, Samsung reached an agreement with BMW to supply rechargeable batteries to existing and upcoming BMW electric vehicles, with the aim of diversifying its portfolio amid increasing calls by investors to find new growth engines," said a Samsung official who declined to be named. Samsung vice chairman Lee himself drives a BMW i8 electric vehicle. Meanwhile, market analysts say Samsung is impressed by the healthy sales of BMW's i3 model, which will increase the demand for Samsung batteries. LG Chem-developed flexible batteries are seen in this photo. The batteries will be used in electric vehicles manufactured by its major car clients, including General Motors and Ford.

/ Courtesy of LG Chem LG partners with Renault, Hyundai LG Electronics is much more aggressive in addressing corporate sustainability concerns. It plans to end its struggles in smartphones and televisions by restructuring its business units and focusing on car-related businesses, said company officials. LG is negotiating with some major carmakers, including Renault and Hyundai Motor, about supplying them enhanced dashboard and IVI systems, according to an LG official, adding it recently beat Hyundai's car-parts affiliate Hyundai Mobis in a deal for IVI solutions. "Samsung is looking to cut its dependence on smartphones. However, this is a bread-and-butter issue for LG Electronics. We need to grab this opportunity. We are in a desperate situation," said an LG Electronics executive by telephone. Indeed, LG will continue to struggle in its key businesses without finding breakthroughs. Its global smartphone share has remained at some 6 percent, pushing it back to a second-tier producer status. But there's no guarantee that LG's shares will significantly increase in the coming years as the market is becoming saturated, which is helping Chinese budget electronics makers. The latest decision by Lenovo to buy Motorola Mobility is also threatening LG, said market analysts and LG officials.

"LG Electronics' vehicle component unit is sharing confidential information with LG Chem as LG Chem is a major player that sells car batteries to more than 10 global carmakers. Our plan is to become like Continental and Bosch ― two titans in the world of car components ― by pooling our resources," said the LG Electronics executive. LG Chem operates a factory in Korea that supplies batteries for 200,000 electric vehicles annually. It also obtained patents for its supplemental restraint system in Europe, Japan and the United States. LG reached an agreement with the Renault Group of France about supplying in-vehicle audio-video-navigation systems or AVNs. In a statement, LG said it aims to develop components and assembly systems such as motors, inverters and converters for electric vehicles at the center, which will house 800 engineers once operational. "The LG-developed Gen2 infotainment systems will be used for Hyundai's and Kia's flagship models this year," he said. Hyundai and Kia confirmed that they have become more interested in infotainment systems. "From safe-driving sensors to voice-and-gesture-controlled infotainment systems to head-up displays with augmented-reality overlays, a plethora of new innovations are coming," said an official at Kia Motors.

At this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Kia Motors Chief Technology Strategist Henry Bzeih and Hyundai Motor Brand and Product Strategy Director Mark Dipko discussed the redefinition of the future of driving. The collaboration between car and technology companies also provides opportunities for semiconductor-makers as many logic and memory chips are used in electric vehicles. For example, Samsung plans to expand the sales of its flash memory solutions to Hyundai vehicles. SK Innovation, the battery-making unit of SK Group, is also investing in China in a strategic collaboration with carmakers there. "By the latter half of this year, SK plans to complete the construction of a battery pack manufacturing line with an annual capacity of 10,000, which will expand to 20,000 by 2017," said SK in a statement. Like Samsung Group and LG Corp., SK Group intends to improve its position internationally. Its purchase of SK Hynix, formerly Hynix Semiconductor, has been regarded as a decision to buy a brand, not a business, in order to gain recognition as one of the most trusted business partners in China. By 2020, China plans to supply 5 million electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

"The proliferation of connected consumer electronics and services has fueled a need for innovation among support services. It's fair to say that emerging backend technologies that foster greater efficiencies in diagnostics, troubleshooting and resolution, as well as self-help tools and other aspects of service innovation in the tech support or component market, is presenting opportunities that companies can't afford to lose," said Patrice Samuels, research analyst at Parks Associates. 1. Health alerts issued as fine dust blankets Korean Peninsula 2. Comfort women were Japan's shocking human rights violations: Lippert 3. Ban Ki-moon haunted by awkward slip-ups 4. Court denies Samsung chief's arrest for 'lack of evidence' 5. Moon Jae-in extends lead after Ban's return: poll 6. Diplomacy dead between Seoul, Tokyo 7. Former Japan sex slavery victim dies at 94 8. Trump won't give concessions to Korea 9. Samsung chief awaits court decision on arrest 10. Egg prices starting to stabilize after imports arrive |

Question: Hyundai, LG, Kia, and Samsung are all companies based in what country?
Answer: South Korea